CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION. 

Prefatory remark. — I. Life of St. Dominic. — Birth. — Family. — Legends. — Holy youth. — Priesthood. — A canon-regular of St. Augustine. — Embassies to Denmark. — Albigenses in Languedoc. — His first visit to Kome. — Preaching in Languedoc. — Success. — Nunnery at Prouille. — Mission in Languedoc. — Crusade against the Albigenses. — The Most Holy Rosary. — Preaching among the crusaders. — English Pilgrims. — Foundation of the Order. — Second visit to Rome. — Name of the Order. F. Lawrence the Englishman. — Choice of the Rule. — Convent at Toulouse. — Third visit to Rome and approval of the Order. — Master of the Sacred Palace. — Dispersion of the Friars. — Fourth visit to Rome. — Convent of St. Sextus. — Miraculous supply of bread and wine. — Foundations in Spain and in France. — F. Lawrence. — Fifth visit to Rome. — Reform of the nuns in Rome. — Miraculous restoration of a young man to life. — Church of Bamborough in Northumberland. — Sister Cicely Cesarini. — Nunnery of St. Sextus. — Convent of St. Sabina. — St. Hyacinth and B. Ceslaus. — Spread of the Order. — First general chapter. — Dominic's preaching in Italy. — Militia of Jesus Christ, or Third Order of Penance. — Last visit to Rome. — Second general chapter : England. — Illness and death of St. Dominic. — Canonization and festival 1 

II. Missionary labours of the Order. — Provinces in Europe. — Eastern missions: St. Hyacinth; Henry of Cologne provincial of England : F. Thomas an Englishman bishop of Abo. — Province of the Holy Land: F. Ivo an English Dominican : F. Geoffrey bishop of Ebron. — Dominican missions in Asia : metropolitan see of Sultania; bishopric of Miaragha; United Brethren of St. Gregory the Illuminator. — F. John an English Dominican; archbishopric of Hakichevan; F. William Belets an Englishman archbishop of Sultania; F. Richard an Englishman bishop of Cherson; F. Francis of Camerino archbishop of Vospero; the Alans and Zicci; Andronicus III. and the Greek schism. — Early missions of Africa: convents; Abyssinia; Ethiopia. — East Greenland: convent. — Decline of the missions of the East. — Destruction of some Dominican provinces and rise of many more. — Portuguese missions in Africa and Asia : Congregation of the Holy Cross, of the East Indies: the Dutch. — Spanish missions in Asia: province of our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, of the Philippines; China; Japan; Tonquin; Discovery of America. — Missions of the West Indies: Mexico; Florida; Peru; Lima, &c. — Congregation of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, of the Antillas. — St. Lewis Bertrand. — New provinces. — Present missions of the Order. — Martyrdoms of the Order in the missions. — Saints of the Order. — Blessed of the Order. — Influence of the Order in the Church, on learning and the arts and in universities 19 

III. The Order in England. — Establishment: Ireland and Scotland. — Short notices of the convents in England and Wales. — Influence among the people; in the State; and in the Church. — Cardinals, — Archbishops. — Bishops. — English Dominican writers. — Printed editions of their works. — The schism of Henry VIII. — Sufferings of the English province. — Dissolution of the convents. — Wreck of the province 39 

CHAPTER I. 

Restoration of the Order by Queen Mary. — Convent of Smithfield. — F. William Perin. — Nunnery of Dartfort. — Destruction of the two communities. — Exile and fate of the nuns. — Struggles of the province. — Regulations for its wants. — Its government. — F. Diego de la Fuente. — F. Thomas Middleton alias Dade. — Noviciate in England. — F. Thomas Catchmay. — F. William Fowler. — F. Thomas Armstrong. — F, Robert Armstrong alias Roberts. — F. David Joseph Kemeys. — Threatened extinction of the province when its restorer appears 69 

CHAPTER II. 

Hon. Philip Howard. — His family, birth, education and religious inclinations. — Goes with his family abroad. — Attempts to join the Carmelite Order at Antwerp. — Travels in France and Italy with his grandfather the Earl of Arundel. — Becomes acquainted with F. John Baptist Hackett an Irish Dominican at Milan. — Consults him on his religious vocation. — Determines to enter the Order of St. Dominic. — Takes the habit in the convent of Cremona and becomes Brother Thomas. — Anger of the Earl of Arundel. — The Earl attempts to persuade or force Brother Thomas out of religious life. — Enlists three cardinals on his side. — The pope orders Brother Thomas to be removed from his convent, and Sig. P. Meocci is sent to carry out the order. — Brother Thomas is taken to the palace of the cardinal-archbishop, of Milan. — Examinations into his vocation. — His constancy. — Opinions of the cardinals more favourable. — Fruitless attempts of Henry Howard to shako his brother's resolution. — Brother Thomas is sent to the Dominican convent at Milan. — Renewed efforts of the Howards to carry their point. — Letter of the Countess of Arundel. — The matter referred to the Propaganda. — Brother Thomas formally protests against being taken out of the Order. — The Earl of Arundel engages the aid of Sir Kenelm Digby, — Sir Kenelm's letter. — Brother Thomas is removed to the convent of St. Sextus in Kome. — Henry Howard attempts to get an order from the Pope to shut out Brother Thomas from all religious life : his reasons. — Henry Howard's letter to the Earl of Arundel. — Failure of the opposition. — Brother Thomas's letter to the Earl. — Brother Thomas is placed with the Oratorians of the Chiesa Nuova, and finishes his noviciate there. — He is examined by Pope Innocent X. himself, is allowed to join the Order, and makes his solemn profession 78 

CHAPTER III. 

Brother Thomas Howard studies at Naples. — Makes an address at the general chapter of 1650 in favour of the Order in England. — Obtains an order for the province. — Is sent to Rennes in Bretagne. — Is ordained priest. — F. Thomas Howard goes to Paris and then into Belgium, to found an English convent. — Consults with F. Ambrose Druw and other Belgian Dominicans. — Three houses for consideration. — He comes into England to raise means for his convent. — F. William Fowler. — F. David Joseph Kemeys. — Mr. Martin Russel joins the Order. — Castle of Folkingham in Lincolnshire. — F. Thomas Howard returns into Belgium. — Witnesses the solemn profession of Brother M. Russel. — Chooses the convent of Bomhem  92 

CHAPTER IV. 

Early history of the convent of Bomhem in East Flanders. — Founded for Franciscans : Relic of the Holy Cross. — Question of possession. — Occupied by soldiers. — Given to the Dominicans of Brussels. — They leave it. — Occupied for a time by the Dominicans of Bois-le-duc. — Gulielmites of Wasia placed there,— Negotiations in favour of the English Dominicans. — Petition to the government. — Mr. Matthew Redingfeld's kindness. — Ecclesiastical leave for it granted. — Removal of the Gulielmites. — F. Thomas Howard made first prior. — Terms of the royal license. — Terms of the baron of Bornhem. — F. William Collins. — F. John Canning. — F. Albert Anderson. — Brother George Daggitt. F. Thomas Howard takes possession of the convent 98 

CHAPTER V. 

State of the convent. — F. Thomas Howard improves it. — Has leave to dispose of his property as he thinks best. — English Dominicans abroad called into the convent. — F. Vincent Torre. — F. Thomas Molineux. — F. John Fidden. — Other Dominicans abroad. — F. Gregory Lovel. — F. George Gore. — F. John Quick. — Noviciate at Bornhem. — F. John Canning. — F. Albert Anderson. — F. Lawrence Thwaits. — Brother George Daggitt. — F. John Jenkin. — Baron of Bornhem declared founder of the convent. — Variance with the baroness concerning her right to, enter the cloister. — Unreasonable demand of the pastor of Bornhem. — It is dropped. — F. Thomas Howard often visits Prince Charles at Brussels. Is sent into England on a secret mission to aid the Royalists' rising. — Is associated with F. Richard Rookwood in the matter. — Reaches England. — Rookwood's treachery. — F. Thomas Howard flies in disguise. — Reaches Belgium in safety. — Cause of the defeat of the Royalists in Cheshire. — Rookwood's after-career and fate. — A secular college established at Bornhem; for which F. Thomas Howard tries to buy a neighbouring house. — Francis Howard his brother joins the Order: sketch of his life. — F. Thomas Howard thinks of visiting Rome, but sendee F. Martin Russel in his stead. — Calls F. Vincent Torre back from Italy, who is made novice-master, and with F. William Collins opens the first school of philosophy for the novices. — He is again in England, at the Restoration. — Forwards the king's marriage with a Catholic princess 107 

CHAPTER VI. 

F. Thomas Howard sets about founding a convent of Dominican sisters in Belgium. — Engages the services of the nuns of Tempsche. — Gives the habit to his cousin Antonia Howard, who takes the name of Sister Catherine. — Hires a house at Vilvorde. — Elizabeth (Barbara) Bojle joins the community. — Account of Sister Catherine Howard. — Her last illness and death. — Our Lady of the Rosary appears to her. — Her burial. — Elizabeth Howard her sister. — Sister Barbara Boyle. — Opposition to the establishment of the convent at Vilvorde 119 

CHAPTER VII. 

F. Thomas Howard made, a second time, prior of Bomhera. — F. William Collins. — Brother Sebastian Eaynaets. — F. Thomas Howard goes to Bornhem,— F. Thomas Fidden. — F. Thomas Catchmay gives up the office of vicar-general of the English province. — F. Thomas Howard chosen in his stead. — Returns into England. — Has leave to delegate and sub-delegate his governing powers. — Death of Brother George Daggitt. — F. Thomas Howard improves the secular college, and adds new buildings to the convent, — F. James Goodlad. — F. Joseph Vere. — F, Thomas Howard again at Bornhem. — Edward Bing joins the Order; his history. — Purchase of land for the convent. — F. George Mildmay. — Wilhenson, a lay-brother. — F. Thomas Howard aids the English Franciscan Tertiary nuns to remove from Nieuport to Bruges. — Regular observance in the convent of Bomhem. — F. Thomas Howard is created a master of theology : returns into Engird. — Marriage of Charles II. and Catherine of Braganza. — F. Thomas Howard is made first chaplain to the queen. — He attempts to found a second convent near Dieppe; F. Vincent Torre; F. Lawrence Thwaits. — F. Peter Atwood alias Pitts; Henry Errington. — F. Thomas Howard visits his convent. — Brother Herman makes good the cellars. — Defence of theses by FF. John Canning and Lawrence Thwaits. — Profession of FF. Edward Bing and George Mildmay. — F. Thomas Howard returns to England. — Death of F. John Jenkin. — Brother Hyacinth Coomans 123 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Zeal of F. Thomas Howard as the royal chaplain. — The queen's and master-general's satisfaction. — He is continued prior of Bornhem. — Official appointments made by him. — F. Vincent Torre, sub-prior. — F. William Collins, confessor to the nuns at Vilvorde. — The sub-prior's injudicious government. — The secular college put down, and the scholars sent to Vilvorde. — John and Esme Howard. — Ill-arrangement of the schools. — F. Antoninus Wichart. — F. Albert de Groet. — Disquietude about the French observance. — The greater part of the Religious sent away to various houses. — Fruitless attempt to get fresh members. — Brother Henry Packe. — F. Peter Atwood. — F. Thomas Howard visits the convent. —  Obtains ecclesiastical and civil leave to found the convent of nuns at Vilvorde. — Sister Barbara Boyle. — Sister Magdalen Sheldon. — Sister Catherine Mildmay. — Their house put under F. John Baptist Veijuyse prior of Antwerp. — F. William Collins sent to the English mission. — F. Joseph Vere. — F. Martin Russel: convent of Tangier passed over to the English province  130 

CHAPTER IX. 

F. Thomas Howard is made Grand Almoner to queen Catherine of Braganza. — Duties and salary of the office. — His care of the Dominican province. — Endeavours in vain to obtain the convent of St. Clement in Home as a house of studies and the extraordinary faculties granted to the Irish province. — Leave for a father to be at Paris and a student at the Minerva in Borne. — Slow progress of the convent at Bornhem. — Brother Francis D. Howard; Brother Hyacinth Coomans. — Brother Antoninus van Antryve. — F. Dominic Gwillim. — F. Vincent Torre ceases to be sub-prior: F, Thomas Fidden appointed. — F. William Collins made prior of Louvain. — Changes in the community. — F. Vincent Hyacinth Cowper. — F, Lewis Thursby. — F. Ambrose Grymes or Graham. — F. William Michael Bertram. — Plague at Bornhem. — Devotion to the Belie of the Holy Cross. — F. William Collins resigns his priorship for the English mission. Brother Francis Dominic Howard. — Brother Hyacinth Coomans. — FF. John Canning and Lawrence Thwaits. — FF. Antoninus Wychart and Albert de Greet. — F. Thomas Howard assists at the congress for establishing peace between England and the United Provinces. — Visits Bornhem and Vilvorde. — Increase of the community of nuns. — Sister Jane Bergmans. — Sister Frances Peck. — Sister Columba Pound. — Sister Ann Busby. — Sister Barbara Boyle made prioress. — Sister Catherine Howard. — The convent of Vilvorde falls into the ordinary jurisdiction of the English province. — War between France and Belgium. — Four soldiers pillage the convent of Bornhem. — Fright of the novices. — F. Thomas Howard attempts to found a city-refuge at Antwerp. — He returns into England. — F. Hyacinth Revel. — FF. Vincent H. Cowper, Lewis Thursby, George Mildmay, Dominic Gwillim, Ambrose Tho. Grymes, and William Mich. Bertram. — Convent of Tangier : Dispute between F. Martin Russel and the governor of Tangier. — F. Martin Bussel returns to England. — Catches a fever on his voyage. — Made sub-prior of Bornhem. — The convent of Tangier given to the Irish Dominicans. — F. Thomas Fidden made provincial procurator and called back into England. — FF. Ambrose Tho. Grymes, William Mich. Bertram, Thomas Molineux, James Goodlad and Lewis Thufsby. — F. Thomas Catchmay retires to Bornhem and dies. — F. Joseph Yere. — F. George Mildmay dies of the plague at Brussels. — F. Thomas Howard sent by Queen Catherine to congratulate the new governor of the Low Countries. — He removes the nuns from Vilvorde to Brussels. — The opposition of the magistracy over-ruled by the governor. — Amortization of the new convent. — F. Dominic Thomas Jonston. — F. Lawrence Thwaits. — F. William Collins. — FF. Martin Bussel and Edward Bing sent into England. — F. John Canning made vicar of the convent. — F. Antoninus Wicliart. — F. Vincent Torre. — F. Albert de Greet. — F. Thomas Howard returns into England. Makes F. John Canning sub-prior. — F. Peter Atwood. — Brother Francis Dom. Howard. — Death of F. Lawrence Thwaits. — Improvements of the convent of Bornhem. — Dispute with the commissary of Buppelmond concerning secular imposts. — A secular college again formed at Bornhem, but given up. — F. Edward Bing. — Boger Powell. — F. Dominic Gwillim made sub-prior. — F, Joseph Yere. — F. John Canning: his death. — F. George Gibson. — Death of Brother Sebastian Beynaets. — F. William Collins. — F. Vincent Torre, his false miracle: is sent to Brussels. — F. Antoninus Michart  137 

CHAPTER X. 

F. Thomas Howard held in great esteem at the English court. — He is the guest and companion of Cosmo de Medici prince of Tuscany. — Marked out for the English episcopate. — Fearful times threatened the Church in England. — F. Thomas Howard foresees the issue of events against it. — Interests the French ambassador and the marshall de Bellefond in favour of Bomhem convent. — Is disliked by Protestants for promoting the Declaration of Toleration in 1672. — Converts many and among them John Davis minor-canon of Windsor, and John Greene a protege of the dean and chapter of Windsor. — Is persecuted by the chapter and threatened with impeachment in parliament for high treason. — Is forced to quit the country. — Retires into the convent of Bomhem. — Mr. Butler. — F. Thomas Howard takes up his duties as prior. — Declines the foundation of a daily Mass in the convent church for the soul of Frances Medina. — F. Pius Westcote alias Lyttelton. — F. Thomas Howard desires to go to Borne for the jubilee of 1675. — Meanwhile a messenger arrives at Bomhem, to declare that he has been created a cardinal. — F. Thomas Howard's surprise and emotion. — To whom he owed the favour. — He celebrates Mass and exposes the Belie of the Holy Cross, and consults the bishop of Antwerp, to know the Divine Will in the matter. — Excitement in the convent of Antwerp when the news reached it: Brother Hyacinth Coomans. — The bishop's decision. — Honourable treatment of cardinal Howard by the bishop and by the prior of Antwerp. — His refusal of all secular favours. — The cardinal receives the berretta in Antwerp Cathedral. — He buys two houses in Antwerp as a college for Bornhem convent: the scheme eventually fails. — He petitions the government to have the endowment of Bornhem and the number of Religious allowed there increased : an unfavourable answer returned. — His anxiety about the financial condition of the convent — The countess of Bornhem renews her claim to enter the convent, and that the aspersorium should be offered her. — The cardinal declines both concessions. — Anger of the countess. — Brother Hyacinth Coomans and the count of Bornhem. — The cardinal's parting gifts to the fathers of Bornhem and nuns of Brussels. — F. Vincent Torre; F. David Joseph Kemeys: the former is made vicar-general of the English province. — The cardinal starts for Rome. — His company. — His receptions at the English colleges at Douay. — He goes to Paris, and thence to Rome, — Expenses of his journey. — Band letter of his brother Henry earl of Norwich. — Reception of the new cardinal at Rome. — Congratulatory verses of Dr. James Alban Gibbes 150 

CHAPTER XI. 

Cardinal Howard receives the hat. — His titles. — He is placed on several congregations. — His friendship with Sir Henry Tichburne. — Extract from the baronet's Diurnal of Pilgrimage. — The cardinal's continued care for the Dominican province of England. — He obtains for it the church and convent of SS. John and Paul in Rome. — Restores the buildings. — F, Thomas White: marriage of James duke of York with Maria Beatrice of Modena. — F. J erome White confessor to the duchess of York. — F. Dominic Pegge. — F. Patrick Ogliby, — F. Thomas Cottam. — F. Joseph Broughton. E. John Been. — F, Thomas Dryden; working of the penal laws in England. — F. Albert Lovell. — F. Alan Pennington. — Amortization of the convent of Bornhem. — The cardinal's interest in the welfare of the convent at Brussels: three of his relatives join the sisterhood. — Long and renewed connection of the noble house of Norfolk with the English Dominican province  170 

CHAPTER XII. 

Increase of the hatred of the English nation for the Catholic faith. — Titus Oates' great popish plot. — Intense excitement of the country. — Cardinal Howard and many English Dominicans brought into the plot and impeached for high treason. — Names of the Dominican 'conspirators.' — Five Dominicans arrested: fate of the others. — F. David Joseph Kemeys dies in prison. — F. Dominic Maguire, afterwards Archbishop of Armagh. — F. William Collins. — F. Vincent Torre flies. — F. Thomas Fidden dies. — F. Albert Anderson alias Munsen tried and condemned but reprieved. — F. Vincent Hyacinth Cowper. — F. Alexander Lumsden. — F. Edward Bing. — F. Maurice Gifford. — F. Thomas Molineux. — F. Martin Russel. — F. Peter Atwood condemned but reprieved: his grief at losing the 'crown of martyrdom.' — F. Cornelius O'Heyn 180 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Condition of the Catholics in England when James II. came to the throne. — James's measures in favour of the Church. — He sends an ambassador to Rome and receives a papal nuncio; calls Catholics into the privy council; authorizes Catholics to hold preferments in the Protestant establishment; re-establishes the court of high commission; forces Catholics on the universities; puts forth the Declaration of indulgence; and re-models the municipal corporate bodies of England. — The Revolution. — Cardinal Howard's interest in the ecclesiastical affairs of England. — Feast of St. Edward the Confessor. — Cardinal Howard made protector of England. — His letter to the English secular clergy. — He recommends Holtzhauser's 'Insetutum Clericorum'. — Rebuilds the English college at Rome : his palace, now the Collegio Pio. — The cardinal's dismay at the proceedings of James II. : the Pope shares his alarm. — Aim of the Pope and cardinals — Appointment of a vicar-apostolic. — Dr. John Leyburn. — Adda, papal nuncio. — Character of cardinal Howard sketched by Macaulay. — Burnet's account of his visit to the cardinal in Rome. — Division of England into four districts: vicars-apostolic appointed. — Dominicans in England. — F. Dominic Gwillim. — F. Ambrose Thomas Grymes. — F. Lewis Thursby. — Miraculous cure of the 'Old Pretender' in his babyhood. — Flight of James II. — Fate of the vicars-apostolic  193 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Sorrow of cardinal Howard for the renewed afflictions of the Church in England. — He sees the Dominican Province placed on a lasting and normal footing. — He assists at three conclaves for electing sovereign pontiffs. — His character. — His illness. — Makes his will: various legacies to his servants; to the Dominican sisters of Brussels, Brother Henry Packe; to the Flemish Ursuline nuns in Rome; to the Ghiesa Nuova, &c.; his executors; leaves the residue of his goods to found a college of studies for the convent of Bornhem. — Codicil; sons of John Dryden, poet-laureate : F. Thomas White. — Death of cardinal Howard: his loss much deplored. — Portraits. — Place of burial. — Epitaph 207 

CHAPTER XV. 

After-history of the convent of Bornhem. — Dedication of the church. — Observance of the rule. — Pilgrimages to the relics of St. Amantius. — History of the relics. — The college of studies founded at Louvain. — Its history. — List of provincials, priors, rectors, and prioresses. — The English Dominicans lose the convent of SS. John and Paul in Borne. — They attempt to have it restored or an equivalent. — secular college established at Bornhem : its great success and fame. — Convent at Brussels. — The sisters rebuild it. — Establish a school. — Notice of Sister Christina Touchet. — Missionary work of the Fathers in England. — Chaplains to embassies. — Patrick Bradley bishop of Derry. — Regular missions. — The most holy Rosary : perpetual Rosary. — The French revolution and invasion of the Low Countries. — Soldiers billeted on the nuns. — The convent pillaged. — Soldiers enter the convent of Bornhem, and remain for three or four days. — Singular letter of a French general. — Success of Austria restores a short peace. — Second invasion of the country. — The nuns fly from Brussels to Bornhem. — The fathers and nuns fly. — Trials and hardships. — They land in England. — The French take Brussels and seize the convent. — Fate of the house and the nuns' property. — Louvain taken, and the fathers fly from the college. — The village of Bornhem sacked and burnt. — The convent set on fire but saved; it is pillaged. — Perils of F. Dominic Fenwick. — The three houses in Belgium declared national property. — The convent of Bornhem sold but bought in by the fathers. — They open the secular college again. — The constitutional oath. — Foundation of the province of St. Joseph in the United States. — Ill-success of the college. — Convent of Brussels sold. — College of Louvain restored to the fathers, and made into a private house. — All the Belgian property except Louvain disposed of. — The house at Louvain again seized by the government — Two burses in the University founded out of the proceeds of the sale : English Dominicans have the preference to them. — The nuns at Hartpury, Atherstone, Hurst Green and in the Isle of Wight. — The fathers open a college and noviciate at Carshalton. — Failure. — Threatened destruction of the province. — Another spring 215